CAI or WAI?

[chstigerpride05]

Looking at an intake but don't really wanna spend that much on one. I read somewhere that the AEM short ram intake actually puts more power to the wheels in some case. My question is "Is the CAI worth spending $80 more when I could get the WAI?" LoL. I really just want the bad-ass sound they make.

[johnnyBgood]

Get the CAI. I have the Injen CAI. Injen rated the power gain to 9 hp. i gained 11 whp on the dyno. And the CAI sounds awesome. i m very pleased with it.

Aesthetics wise, i would say get the CAI. Maybe AEM in silver.

[Guycali]

CAI for summer, WAI for winter. CAI extension is worth it if you cut the fake vents. Else, it's just same as WAI sucking in warm engine bay air.

-Guycali

[Fenixfire077]

i'm a little confused, whats the advantage of a wai in the winter over a cai??

[Guycali]

Originally Posted by Fenixfire077

i'm a little confused, whats the advantage of a wai in the winter over a cai??

The temperature during winter is low enough such that using a WAI doesn't affect intake temp under the hood much. I had WAI during last winter and coming home from work with an hour of commute, the hood was still very cold to the touch. Besides, unless you have a BPV (bypass valve), you don't want to be driving in the rain with a CAI setup.

-Guycali

[eclipsed4utoo]

you shouldnt have to worry about sucking up water unless you decide to go snorkling in your car...just get the bypass value and you'll be good. i saw a demonstration of the bypass valve in a magazine and it made me a believer

[Guycali]

Originally Posted by eclipsed4utoo

you shouldnt have to worry about sucking up water unless you decide to go snorkling in your car...just get the bypass value and you'll be good. i saw a demonstration of the bypass valve in a magazine and it made me a believer

Yes true but you never know when you'll hit that pool of water or get splashed by passing car in the next lane at high speed after some hard rains without a BPV installed. Who'd want to go snorkeling in a car? I've also heard BPV does hinder airflow a bit and decreases performance. Thus, it'd be safe to do WAI in winter and CAI in summer.

-Guycali

[Fenixfire077]

if you think about it, that air filter must be totally submerged for any water to get in, it's much easier for air to get in then water, so if the filter is halfway submerged it's still just going to pull in air from the other half... splashes will not affect anything, otherwise you'd need a bypass valve with any intake out there, even the stock ones. the only time i;d really worry about it is if you're careless enough to go wading through any huge puddles. otherwise seek an alternate route. it's not good for car to go wading through huge water puddles anyhow.

[johnnyBgood]

I have a problem driving behind tractor trailers in the rain. All that rain gets kicked up into my intake (fake vents cutout and splash shield removed) and the car stumbles until I get from behind the truck.

[eclipsed4utoo]

well the bypass valve should decrease performance when the main filter is submerged. have u seen the bypass valve? its like 2 inches of filter, theres not gonna be that much air comin in through it. anyway, its not there to increase performance...its there to keep your engine from getting fucked up

[Fenixfire077]

johnny u have noticed a difference when tractors and whatnot kick up water??? what actually happens?

[johnnyBgood]

I have noticed a difference and it is severe. When enough water gets ingested, the car feels like the tranny just stopped turning. The car will not accelerate no matter how much you push the gas pedal down. The ECU realizes what is happening and runs the A/F's to stupid rich. After it happened, I was lucky to get 300mi to the tank, going from 400.

After I realized what was happening, I now take care to keep out of the water spray of vehicles. It is really not that difficult. My gas mileage is back up to around 375-400 if I drive normally.

[Fenixfire077]

wow, you're the first person I have ever heard of encountering any sort of problems with this sort of thing. If anyone else has encountered any troubles, please speak up. I want to hear how everyone adapts to these things, wether you get some sort of shield to block to water or what.

[johnnyBgood]

I doubt other people have this problem. I have cut out the fake vents and removed the splash shield, so I get alot of airflow, and that increases the possibility of water ingestion. If I had my splash shield and fake vents still, I am sure that I would not have this problem.

[Lost2000GS]

yea Johnny, the instalation manual on my AEM intake said if the splashguards were removed that water WOULD get up in there, though im sure you noticed that when you took them off lol, just thought you might want to know what AEM had to say about it